Buckeye Share News

US STOCK FUTURES: HOT STOCKS TO WATCH

Among the companies whose shares are expected to actively trade in Wednesday's session are Apple Inc. (AAPL), Yahoo Inc. (YHOO) and Boeing Co. (BA). Apple's fiscal first-quarter earnings more than doubled, as both profit and revenue hit record highs, led by strong sales of the iPhone and iPad. Shares jumped 8.1% at $454.25 in recent premarket trading as the results blew past analyst expectations. Yahoo's fourth-quarter earnings fell 5.3% on a bigger tax provision, while the Internet company's operating income improved thanks to lower operating and revenue costs despite weaker revenue. Shares were down 0.6% to $15.59 in recent premarket trading. Boeing's (BA) fourth-quarter earnings rose 20% as the aerospace company's revenue increased due to higher commercial airplane deliveries. For the year, the company projected per-share earnings of $4.05 to $4.25 on revenue of $78 billion to $80 billion, compared with recent estimates from analysts polled by Thomson Reuters of $4.96 and $78.55 billion, respectively. Shares were down 1.1% to $74.50 premarket. WellPoint Inc.'s (WLP) fourth-quarter earnings fell 39% on investment losses and higher costs, as the health-benefits provider also increased its dividend by 15%. Results missed expectations, and the company expects full-year earnings for 2012 to also be below consensus. Shares dropped 7.4% to $64.25 in recent premarket trading. General Dynamics Corp.'s (GD) fourth-quarter earnings fell 17% as the defense company's margins were hurt by charges at its aerospace business. Shares declined 1.2% to $70.46 in recent premaket trading. Corning Inc.'s (GLW) fourth-quarter profit slumped 53% as the company struggled, as expected, with sliding prices for liquid-crystal-display glass. Shares fell 4.9% to $13.90 premarket. Xerox Corp.'s (XRX) fourth-quarter profit more than doubled from a year-earlier period that was hurt by heavy charges, while revenue came in lighter-than-expected due to softer sales in the company's technology business. The printer-and-copier maker said economic weaknesses in Europe was behind the lighter technology revenue, which covers the sales of printers, supplies and other items. Shares were down 0.4% to $8.64 premarket. US Airways Group Inc.'s (LCC) fourth-quarter earnings dropped 36% as the airline struggled under a sizable jump in fuel costs that masked stronger revenue. Shares were up 3.4% to $6.63 in recent premarket trading as core earnings far exceeded analyst estimates. CA Inc.'s (CA) fiscal third-quarter earnings rose 32% as the business-software maker saw revenue growth in each of its three segments. Shares surged 16% to $26.55 in premarket trading as the company also unveiled a capital allocation program that targets the return of up to $2.5 billion to shareholders through fiscal year 2014. Textron Inc. (TXT) swung to a fourth-quarter loss on several one-time items, though revenue grew more strongly than expected. The company also gave an upbeat forecast, projecting full-year earnings that beat analysts' expectations. Shares gained 7.5% to $23.22 in recent premarket trading. Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) swung to a fourth-quarter loss as write-downs tied to the chip maker's investment in its spun-off foundry business offset stronger personal-computer processor sales. Shares slipped 4.3% to $6.25 premarket as Advanced Micro's soft revenue overshadowed its stronger-than-expected core earnings. The stock had fallen 15% over the past year through Tuesday's close. Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP (KMP) said it plans to spend roughly $140 million to further expand coal export operations along the Gulf Coast and reached a long-term throughput agreement with Arch Coal Inc. (ACI). Kinder Morgan Energy said the companies are in final discussions to include port space for coal shipments at Kinder's facilities on the East Coast. Shares were up 0.3% to $88.60 premarket. Fusion-io Inc.'s (FIO) fiscal second-quarter earnings loss narrowed as the data-efficiency specialist more than doubled its top line, but its costs took up a bigger proportion of the revenue than in the year prior. Share dropped 11% at $26.90 premarket. Tempur-Pedic International Inc.'s (TPX) fourth-quarter earnings rose 22% as the mattress company reported stronger sales of mattresses and pillows. Shares rose 8.1% to $67.30 in recent premarket trading as the company projected 2012 results that exceeded expectations. Polaris Industries Inc.'s (PII) fourth-quarter earnings jumped 17% as the company reported another quarter of strong sales growth that surged ahead of expectations. Still, the company had cautioned the fourth quarter could see a greater impact from volatility of foreign currencies and higher input costs. Shares fell 3.5% to $60.51 premarket. Radian Group Inc. (RDN) said it entered a three-pronged transaction with units of fellow insurer Assured Guaranty Ltd. (AGO) that it said would significantly increase its capital position and preserve liquidity. Shares in mortgage insurer Radian were up 3.4% at $3.05 in premarket trading. Williams Partners LP (WPZ) unveiled plans Tuesday to offer 6.5 million common units as the company looks to raise money to fund capital expenditures and for other general partnership purposes. Units slipped 3.5% to $62.60 premarket. Watch List: Abbott Laboratories (ABT) reported fourth-quarter earnings rose 12% on improved profit margins, though sales for the pharmaceutical and medical-products company were less than expected. Altera Corp. (ALTR) fourth-quarter earnings fell 37% on weak sales, as the semiconductor maker reported sequential revenue drops in all its markets. Buckeye Technologies Inc. (BKI) swung to a fiscal second-quarter loss on a significant write-down, but adjusted earnings rose as the fiber maker improved margin and specialty-fiber sales. The company also increased its quarterly dividend by a penny to 7 cents a share. Dover Corp.'s (DOV) fourth-quarter profit rose 40% on higher revenue boosted by broad-based organic growth and acquisitions. Ethan Allen Interiors Inc.'s (ETH) fiscal second-quarter profit slumped 45% after a tax benefit in the year-earlier period, but the home-furnishings company's adjusted earnings rose on higher sales and margin. Everest Re Group Ltd. (RE) said it expects to incur net catastrophe losses of about $245 million, after reinstatement premiums and taxes, for the fourth quarter as losses from the flooding in Thailand topped prior estimates. A federal appeals court upheld a ruling against General Electric Co.'s (GE) financing arm that charged the conglomerate with understating some of its taxable income. Hess Corp. (HES) swung to an unexpected loss in the fourth quarter as the oil explorer reported wider losses at its marketing and refining business amid the closing of the Hovensa refinery. Hess is among a number of large oil companies that have been increasing spending to fund exploration programs and the development of shale-gas properties in the U.S. -Edited by Maya Pope-Chappell and Ian Thomson; write to maya.pope-chappell@dowjones.com and ian.thomson@dowjones.com